Evening Star Newspaper, May 23, 1891, Page 7

PA i % e . . THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D.C. SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1891—SIXTEEN PAGES. A MEMORABLE NIGHT. THE SINGULAR ADVENTURE OF A PHYSICIAN. WRITTEN FOR THE EVENING STAB BY ANNA KATHERINE GREEN. CHAPTER L AM A YOUNG PHYSICIAN OF LIMITED practice and great ambition. At the time of the incidents I am about to relate my office was in « respectable house in 24th street, New York city, and was shared, greatly to my own pleasure and convenience, by a clever young German whose acquaintance I had made in the hospital, and to whom I had become, in the one<short year in which we had practiced together. most unreasonably attached. I say unredsonably, because it was a liking for which Tcogld not account even to myself, as he was neither especially prepossessing in appearance nor gifted with any too great amiability of ebaracter. He was, however, « brilliant theorist and an unquestionably reliable practitioner, and for these reasons, probably, I entertained for bim a profound respect, as I haw already said, a hearty and spontaneous affeo- tion. As our specialties were the same, and as, moreover, they were of a nature which did not call for night work, we usually spent the even- ing together. But once I failed to join him at | the office, and it is of this night I have to tell I had been over to Orange, for my heart was sore over the quarrel I had had with Dora, aad 1 was resolved to make one final effort toward | reconciliation. But, alas for my hopes, she was not at home, and what was worse, I soon | learned that she was going to sail the next morning for Europe. This news, coming as it did without warning, affected me seriously, for I knew if she escaped from my influence at This was startlin, first, but after I bad tried the door by which Thad entered and found it securely locked, \d then, bounding to the other side of the Toom, tried the opposite one with the same re- sult, I could not but acknowledge that I was caught, caught! What did it mean? Canght, and Iwas in haste, mad haste! Filling the i ted for help and room with my cries I shout po rr k release, but my Hitless, aud, after exhausting myself in vain, T stood still and surveyed with what equanim- ity was left me the appearance of the dreary piace in which I bad th trapped. CHAPTER IL It wasa small square room and I shall not soon forget with what a foreboding shudder I observed that its four blank walls were liter- ally unbroken by a single window, for this told me that Iwas in no communication with the street and that it would be impossible for me to summon help from the outside worfa. The single gas jet burning ina fixture hanging from the ceiling was the only relief given to thi im the blank expanse of white wall that sur- rounded me; while, as to furniture, the room could boast of nothing more than an old-fash- ioned black walnut table and two chairs, the latter cushioned, but stiff in the back cand = erally dilapidated in appearance. sign of comfort about me was a tray that stood on the table, containing a couple of bottles of wine and two glasses. The bottles were full box of and the glasses clean, and to add to this appearance of hospitality a rested invitingly near, which I could not fail to perceive, even at it glance, was of the very best brand. Astonished at these tokens of consideration for my welfare, and confounded by the pros- pect which they offered of a lengthy stay in this place, I gave another great shout, but to no better purpose than before. Not @ voice answered and not a stir was heard in the house. But there came from without the sound of suddenly moving wheels, as if the carriage which I had left standing before the door had slowly rolled away. indeed a prisoner—a prisoner while the mo- mente so necesssary to my plans,and perhaps to the securing of my whole future happiness, were If this were so then was I this time I should certainly lose her forever. | flying by like the wind. As I realized this and for the gentleman concerning whom we hed n I, and almost equally in love. However, her faiber. who liad always been my friend, did got look upon this same gentleman's advan- with as favorable an eve es che did, and he beard I was in the house he came a into my presence with excitement written in every line of his fine face. “ab, Dick, my boy,” he exclaimed joyfully, “how ‘opportune this is! I was wishing you ould come, for, do you know, Appleby hes taken passage on boar: e same #6! Dora, and if he and she cross together they will certainly come to an understanding, and ‘that will not be fair to you or pleasing to me; and I do not care who knows it!” I gave him one look and sank quite over- whelmed into the seat nearest me. Appleby was the name of my rival, and I quite agreed with her father that the tete-a-tetes afforded by an ocean voyage would surely put an end to the hopes which I had so long and secretly cherished. “Does she know he is going? Did she en- courage him?” I stammered. But the old man answered genggally: “O, she knows, but I cannot say any positive about her having encouraged him. ‘The fact is, Dick, she still holds a soit place in her heart for you, and if you were going to be of the| thought made me ing this I wae resolved to continue my efforts for I might be mistaken. There might yet bo some being left who would yield to my en- freatiee if they were backed by something sub- stanti ell “I think you would come off conqueror yet.” “Then I will be of the party,” I cried. “It is only 6 now andl can be in New York by 7. That gives me five hours before midnight, time enough im which to arrange my see Richter apd make everything pel my sailing in the morning. “Dick, you are a trump!” exclaimed the was just 7:45. pockets of whatever money they held, and when all was heaped up before me I coald count but $12, which, together with my studs and a seal | my own utter helplessness I fell into one of the uarreled wasa much better match for her | chairs before me in a state of pe one in my situation might question if he would ever again breathe the open air from which he had been so ingeniously lured, Idid notin that first moment of utter down-beartedness so much as inquire the reason for the trick which had been played upon me. No, for my heart was fall of asking myself if and I was Iwere destined to lose her after all, and that through no lack of effort on my part, but just becanse a party of thieves or biackmailers my liberty. had thought it to play a game with it could not be. There must be some mis- take about it. It was some great joke or I was the victim of a dream or suffering from some hideous nightmare. Why, only a half hour be- fore I was in my own office, among my own familiar ‘belongings, and now—— But, alas! it was no delusion.’ Only four blank, white- walls met my inquiring eyes, and though Iknocked and knocked again upon the two doora which echoes continued to be the only answer I re- me on either side hollow rae tho’ earthage eh take the tr . then, taken away the two [aor ype baggy opp Oy this house and was I i alone in this great emptiness? te, but notwithstand- Taking out my watch I laid it on the table; it en I emptied my trousers’ gratified father. “You havea spirit I like, and | ring which I wore, seemed a paltry pittance if Dora does not like it, too, then Iam ‘mis-| with which to barter for the uty of which I taken in ber good sense. "But can you leave | had been robbed. But it was all I and I was willing to part with itat once if only some one would unlock the door and thing like a critical condition,” I replied, | But how make known my wishes, even if there i her case Richter understands almost as | was any one to listen to them? i had already to see her this | called “in vain, and there was no bell. Yes h ‘plain, but there is| there was. Why had I not seen it before? Thero time for that if Igo now. ‘steamer sails | was a bell i your patients” “Just now Ihave but one patient who is in aw “Precisely.” “Do not tell Dora that I expect to be thers; let her be surprised. Dear girl, she is quite weil, I hope? “Yes, very well: only going over with her uni to do some shopping. A poor outlook for PZEBeBEs physician, you think. Well, Idon't know about she is just the kind of a girl to-go from one extreme to another. If she once loves you she will not care any longer about Paris fashions.” as my hand fell on P behind my back saying in good English, but strong d with me, let me go. aT sprang toring it. But just as ‘accent: “Put up your money, Mr. Atwater; we do not want your money, only your society. Allow mee t@ beg you'te topless both wa money.” Maceling shout in my double surprise at the presence of this intruder and his unexpected eee ee with my name Tenconntered the watch and ing glance of » man of genteel pearance and courteous manners. He was Pr “She shall love me,” I cried, and left him in bowing almost to the ground and was, as I in- great hurry to catch the first train for Ho- | stantly detected, of German birth and educa- s boken. mined to pursue it. I loved Dora too much to lose her, and if three weeks’ absence would | sa; tion, a gentleman, and not the blackleg I had | it It seemed wild, this scheme, but I deter-|e reason to expect to see. “You have a slight mistake,” he was ‘it is your society, only your society, Ficare me the happiness of my life why should tae we want.” hesitate to avail myvelf of the proffered op- Astonished at his appearance and exceedingly portunity. | I rode on air as the express I had | irritated at his words I stepped back as he of- taken shot from station to station, and by the | fered me my watch and bluntly cried: “If it is time I bad arrived at Christopher my plans were ail laid and my time midnight. street ferry | my society only that you want you have cer- ‘isposed of | talnl taken very strange means to procure it. f could have set no neater trap. and if it It was therefore with no laggard step that I peng? sa ‘want state your sumandlet me go, hurried to my office, nor was it with any ordi- | for my Bary feelings of impatience that I foun: ime is valuable and my society likely Rich- | to be unpleasant.” ter out. for this was not his usual hour forab-| He gave a shrug with his shoulders that in no- senting himself and I had much to tell him | wise interfered and many advices to give. It was my first balk and 1 was fuming over it, when I saw what looked like a package of books lying on the table before me, though it was addressed to my partner I was about to take it up, when I heard my name uttered in a tremulous tone and, turning, saw a man standing in the door- way, who, the moment I met his eye, advanced woh, dover, There, been waiting f “Ob, doctor, I have waiting for you an hour. Mrs. Warner has been taken very bad, sir,and she prays that you will not delay s moment before coming to her. It is something serious, I fear. and she may have died already, for she would have no one else but you, and it pe yy “And who are you?” knew Mra. Warner well—she is, the patient to whom I have already referred—I did not know ber messenger. “Tam servant in the house where she was taken ill.” “Then she is not at home?” aaa; she ine 38 avenen hs “I am very sorry,” gan, “but re not time——" But he interrupted eagerly: “There is « carriage at the door; we thought you might not have your phaeton ready.” had noticed the ca: bs - ” nigh bed her volce then, “ voice then,” I ventured, some- what distrustful of the whole thing and yet iy not knowing how to refuse the man. especial, ae it was absolutely to see Mra. War- , necessary ne@mthat night and get her consent to my de- peeture before I could think of making further © seat in the me. The man at once jumped up on the the driver, and before I close down 7th — * é thought came, “What if Mrs. HF i As we went the ‘Warner will not let me off?” But I dismissed the fear at once, for this patient of mine is an ex- tremely unselfish woman, and if she were not too ill to grasp the sitdation would i uy i ff | r HED pega jie iF F a into this place’ with his set smile. “You choose to be facetious,” he observed. “T have already remarked that we have no use for your money. Will you sit down? Here is some excellent wine and if this brand of cigars does not suit you I will send for another.” “Send for the devil,” I cried, greatly exas- rated. “What do you mean by keeping me in Eni place againstmy will! Open thes disor sua let me out or— I was ready to spring and he saw it. Smili more strociously than ever he slinped behin: the table, and before I could reach him had quietly drawn a pistol, which he cocked before my eyes. ou are excited,” he remarked, with a , suavity that nearly drove me mad. citement is no determined that none but good company shalt be in this room tonight. So if you will be kind enough to calm yourself, Mr. Atwater, you and to good company, I may yet enjoy ourselves, but if’ not——” The action he made was significant, and I felt the cold sweat break out ou my forehead through ail the heat of my indignation. But I did not mean to show him that he had intimidated me. “Excuse me,” said I, “and put down your istol. Though you are making me lose irre- jeemable time I will try and control myself enough to give you an opportunity for ex- nial are 3 ing yourself. Why have you entrapped “have already told you,” said he, gentl ing the pistol before him, but in easy read “But that is preposterous,” I began, fast losing my self control again. “You do not know me and if you did ——" “Pardon me, you see I know your nam Yes, that was true and the fact set me think- ing. ‘How did he know my name? I did not know him nor did I know this house or any reason for which I could have been beguiled into it. Was I the victim of » conspiracy or mad? Looking at him very earn- ‘My name is Atwater and so 3 right, but in learning that much about me you must also have learned that I am neither rich nor influential or of any special value to blackmailer. Why choose me out then for—your society? Why not choose some one who can—talk?” “I find your conversation vety interesting.” exasperated almost beyond my power to restrain myself, I shook my fist in his face, notwiths {saw his hand fly to his pistol. “Let me go,” I shricked, ‘let me go ont of this Thave business,I tell you—import- nd hard to believe at jus suddenly become en- good. I may never have the ity =. y opportunit He must be mad; nothing else but mania could account for such words and such actions, and yet if mad why was be allowed to enter my Presence? The man who brought me here, the woman who received me at the door, had not “And I must stay here—" I began. “Till Tam quite satisfied. Iam afraid that will ill morning.” I gave a cry of despair and then in my utter desperation ‘spoke up to him asI would tos man of feeling: “You don't know what you are doing; you don't know what Ishall ‘suffer by any such cruel detention. This night is not like other nights tome. This isa special night in my life and T need it—I need it, I tell you—tospend as I will, “The woman I love"—it seemed horrible to Speak of her in this place, but I was wild at my helplessness and madiy hoped I might awake some answering chord in a breast which could not be void of all feeling or he would not have t benevolent look in his eye—‘The woman I love,” I repeated, ‘‘sails for Europe tomorrow. We have quarreled, but she still cares for mo, and ifIcan sail onthe same steamer we will yet make up and be happy.” “At what time does this steainer start?” “But—but,” I panted, “I have made no ar- Tangements. I shall have to go to my lodgings, write letters, get money—I ought to be there at this moment. Have you no mercy ona man who never did you wrong and only asks to quit youand forget the precious hour you have im lose?" “Iam sorry,” he said; “it is certainly quite unfortunate. but the door will not Megpensd before 8. There is really no one in the house to unlock it.” “And do you mean to say,” I cried, aghast, “that you could not open’ that door if you would, that you are locked here as well as I'and that I'must ‘remain here till morning, no mat- ter how I feel or you feel?” “Will you not take a cigar?” he asked. Then, ‘then, I began to see how useloss it was to struggle, and visions of Dora leaning on the steamer rail, with that serpent whispering soft entreaties in her ear, came rushing before me till I could have wept in my jealous chagrin. “It is cruel, base, devilish,” I began. “If you id the excuse of wanting money and took this method of wringing my all from me 1 could have patience; but to entrap and keep me here for nothing, nothing, when my whole future happiness is trembling in the balance, is the work of @ fiend and——” I made » sudden Pause, for @ strange idea had struck me. CHAPTER IIL e ‘What if this man, these men and this woman were in league with him whose rivalry I feared and whom I had intended to supplant on the morrow. Itwas a wild surmise, but was it any wilder than to believe I was held here for a mere whim, a freak, a joke, as this bowing, smiling man before would have me believe? Rising in fresh excitement I struck my hand on the table. ‘You want to keep me from going on the steamer,” I cried. ‘That other wretch who loves her has paid you——” But that other wretch could not know that I was meditating any such unusual following him without a full dey’s ing. I thought of this even before I had finished my sentence and did not need the blank astonish- ment in the face of the man before me to con- vince me that I had given utterance to a fool- ish accusation. “It would ha sort of a motive for your actions,” I humbly dded as I eank back from my hostile attitude; “now you have none.” I thought he bestowed upon mea look of quiet pity, but if so he soon hid it with his up- lifted glass. “Forget the girl,” said he. “I know of a dozen just ai 8 too int nant to answer. Women are the bane of life,” he now sen- tentiously exclaimed. “They are ever intrad- ing themselves between a man and his comfort, aa, for instance, just now between yourself and this good wine. caught up the bottle in sheer desperation. ‘Don't talk of them," I cried, “and | will try and drink. I almost wish there was poison in the glass. My death here might bring punish~ ment upon you.” He shook’ his head, totally unmoved by my n. 01 » ‘We deal punishment, not receive it. It would not worry me in ‘the least to leave you lying here upon the floor.” I did not believe this, but I did not stop to weigh the question then; I was too much struck by # word he had used. ‘Deal punishment?” I repeated. “Are you Punishing me? Is that why 1 am here?” ie laughed and held out his giass to mine. fou enjoy being sarcastic,” he observed. “Well, it gives a spice to conversation, I own. Talk is apt to be dull without it.” For reply [struck the glass from his hand; ll and shivered and he looked for the mo- ment really distressed. had rather you had struck me,” he re- marked, “for Ihave an answer for an injury but for a broken glaws——" He sighed and looked dolefully at the pieces on the floor. Mortified and somewhat ashamed, I put down my own glass. ‘You should not have exasperated me,” I eried and walked away beyond temptation, to the other side of the room. His spirits had received a dampener, but in a few minutes he seized upon a cigar and began smoking. As the wreaths curled over his head he began to talk and this time it was on subjects totally foreign to myself and even to himself. 1t was good talk, that I rec- ognized, though I hardly I'stened to what he said. I’ was asking myself what time it had now got to be and what was the meaning of my incarceration, till my brain became weary and I could scarcely distinguish the topic he discussed. But he kept on for all my seeming and indeed reul indifference, kept on hour after hour in a monologue he endeavored to make interesting and which probably would have been so if the time and occasion had been fit for my enjoying it. As it was Thad no ear for his choicest’ phrases, his subtlest criticisms or his most philo- sophie disquisitions. I was wrapped up in’ self und my cruel disappointment, and when in a sudden excess of frenzy I leaped to my fect and took a look the watch stili lying on the table and saw it was 4 o'clock in the morning I gave a bound of final despair, and throwing myself on the floor gave myvelf up to the heavy sleep that mercifully came to relieve me. I was roused by feeling a touch on my breast. Clapping my band to the spot where 1 had felt the intruding hand I discovered that my watch had been returned to its pocket. Drawing it out I first looked at it and then cast my eyes quickly about the room. There was no one with me and the doors stood open between me and the hall. It was $ o'clock, as my watch had just told me. ‘That I rushed from the house and took the shortest road to the steamer goes without say ing. I could not cross the ocean with Dora, but I might yet see her and teli her how near i came to giving her my company on that long voyage, which now would only serve to further the ends of my rival. But, when after torturing delays on cars and on ferry boats, and incred~ ible efforts to pierce’a throng that was equally determined not to be pierced, I at Inst reached the wharf, it wus to behold her, just as 1 had ‘fancied in my wildest moments, leaning ou a ruil of the ship and listening, while rhe abstractedly waved her hand to’ some friends below, to the words of the man who had never looked so handsome to me or so odious as at this moment of his unconscious triumph. Her father was near her and from his eager attitude and rapidly wandering gaze I saw that he was watching for me. At last he spied me strug- gling aboard, and immediately his face lighted up ina way which made me wih he had not thought it necessary to wait for ny anticipated meeting with bis daughter. “Ab, Dick, you are iute,” he began effusively as I put footon deck. But I waved him back and went at once to “Forgive me, pardon me,” I mcoherently sds ashes sweet apes Teas fe stactina pleasure to mine. “I would have brought you tlowers, but 1 meant to sail with you, Dora, 1 tried to, but wretches, villains, prevented it and— and— “Oh, it does not matter,” she said, and then blushed, probably because the words sounded But tanking “I mean—— could not say what she meant, for Just then the bell rang for all v: ait aeeth zs} if i I shook my head; I could not telt him then that it was not through any inck of luck on my part that I had failed him. went out. Was any one more wretched than I was tat mi€rning, and could any one nourish a morebitter grievance? As I strode toward my r Ichewed the cud of my disappoint ment till my wrongs loomed up like mountains b; irit of revenge. i "Taree Teceived go unpunished? No; wret who had detained: me was not used to punish- ment he should receive a specimen of it now, and from ® man who was no longer a prisoner, and who, once aroused, did not ly forego his purposes. Turning ‘aside from my former destination I went immediately to a police station, nnd when I had entered my complaint was astonished to see that all the officials had Brouped about me and were listening to my words with the most startled interest. “We who came for you German?” ‘as the one asked. I said Pend a “And the man who stood guardian over you and entertained you with wine and cigars, was not he a German, too?” T nodded acquiescence, and they at once be- gan to whisper together; then one of them ad- vanced to me and said: “You have not been home, I understand; you had better com Astonished by his manner I endeavored to inquire what he meant, but he drew mo away, and not till we were in’ a stone's throw of my office did he say: “You must prepare yourself for a shock. The impertinences you suffered from last night Were unpleasant, nodoubt, but if you had been allowed to return home you might not now be deploring them in comparative peace fety.”” “What do you mean?” “That your partner was not as fortunate as yourself. Look up at the house; what do you see there?” ; A crowd, that is what I saw first, but he made me look higher and then I perceived that the windows of my room, of our room, were shat- tered and blackened and that part of the case- ment of one had been blown out. “A fire!” I shrieked, “Poor Richter was smoking. 7 was not smoking. He had no time forasmoke. An infernal machine burst in that room last night and your friend was its wretched victim.” Inever knew why my friend's life was made & sacrifice to the revenge of hia fellow ore men. Though we had been intimate in year we had been together he had T talked to me of his country und I had never seen him in company with one of his own nation. But that he was the victim of some political revenge was apparent, for. though it proved impossible to find the man who had detained me, the house was found and ransacked, and amongst other secret things were discovered the model of the machine which had been intro- duced into our room and which had roved so fatal to the man it wag ad- ressed for. Why men who were so rélent- Jess in their purposes toward him should have taken such pains to keep mo from sharing his fate is one of those anomalies in human nature which now and then awake our astonishment. If I had not lost Dora through my detention at their hands I should look back upon that even- ing with sensations of thankfulness; as it is I sometimes question if it would not have been better if they had let me take my chances. Have I lost Dora? From a letter I received today I begin to think not. 2. ____ THE NEXT WAR. Tactics Adopted by Armies on the Conti- nent of Europe. From the London Times. Yesterday at the Royal United Service Insti- tution, Whitehall Yard, the second session of the year was opened bya lecture on the new tactics of continental and especially German troops, the lecturer being Capt. J. M. Grierson, RA., deputy adjutant general, who has at- tended the maneuvers of the German army for the last two years. Capt. Grierson said that with the enormous masees of men who would appear upon the continental battlefields of the future it beeame of the utmost importance to shorten the march- ing columns, and various experiments were made by the Germans to carry this out. The plan now adopted was to move on as broad a front as the road permitted, with the ranks closed up. In the German army it was tho invariable practices. to carry out all maneuvers with the infantry, and generally all other arms, in marching’ order, and the men were thus accustomed to maneu- ver in peace, as they would fight in war. As to smokeless powder, one required to see it used to grasp the enormous differenco this material would make in the appearance of the battle- field of the future. At a few yards distance only @ faint blue haze was seen when a single rifle was fired, and even when large bodies were using their rifles as repeaters the smoke was so slight as to make no real difference to those firing. The new powder must give a great ndvantage to troops acting on the defensive. Then, as to the ndop- n of the magazine rifle, this had necessitated the supply of additional ammunition, and had increased the difficulties of distribution. All continental armies appeared to have endeavored to solve the problem by “fractioning” the sup- ly, and had adopted light company ammuni- tion wagons instead of the old battalion wagons. ‘As to the new sinall-caliber rifle, the lecturer said that more than by smokeless powder. more even than by the repeating principle— had tactical formations been aff by this ‘The weapon with which the German in- ‘try Was armed was used ent @ repeater, and not, as with us, a si gle loader, and he ‘calied attention to the increased distances at which the German sol- dier was expected to hit. Regulations were laid down that between 660 and 880 yards closed bodies in the open or behind defactive cover could only be allowed to remain halted or to move toa flank fora short time, and then only when the fire of the Shooting line covering them was, in a measure, equal to that of the enemy. If under aftillery fire the ompanies formed a line at about 1,500 meters. fantry alwara moved at the “quick,” and thus kept their breath, and were thus in good form for shooting when halted. Generally half a shooting line of @ battalion moved forward covered by the fire of th half remaining in position, ‘The fire disoi pline was better maintained in the German than in other systems. i He then spoke of the remarkable grip the officers had of the supports and reserves, and dwelt upon the fact that in the supreme mo- ment of a contest the “parade step” was as- sumed, the drums beat and the bands played the regimental march. The men in front knew from the drums and the music that their comrades were coming, and 80 ac- quired that new strength of mind which was only second to strength of body. Little | use was made in the German army of volley firing, and infantry fire at long range was nite the exception. Great use was made by ie German infantry of the intrenching- tools, th which every secord man was pro: vided. As to mounted infantry, the lecturer said every continental nation rejected it abso- Intel infantry were required to keep up with cavalry, they were conveyed on carts. Even the’ Russians seemed to be changing their ideas about their dragoons, who were, armed with rifles and bayonets, and trained to fight on foot. ‘Then, as to artil- lery, it was shown that the proportion of guns toan army would be enormously increased and the work of the masses of guns would be facilitated by the smokeless powder, In conclusion, the speaker phasized the great importance of the assemblage of troops at maneuvers. These were the “schools” in which all ranks. and especially the staff. were trained in peace for the duties they would have to perform in wat —soo—______ An Incident in Switzerland, From Puck. 7 “ Rochsen (an Alpine guide)—“Where are you Thurston (of Kentucky)—“Gtinnin’ for ‘he some of them Bi. Sernard dogs Gat ony hogs of brandy around “The doesn't it?” IN WOODS AND FIELDS |e" Floral Riches at Hand—A Flora That Em- braces Almost All the Important Plants of America—The Trees of the District—What an Observant Man Can See. ‘Written for The Evening Star. HE FLORA OF THE DISTRICT OF CO- lumbia embraces almost all the important plants of America. Prof. Lestor F. Ward, the botanist, who has been over the ground thor- oughly, tells us that there are within the region comprising the criginal District of Columbia 1,249 species and varieties of wild flowers which belong to 627 different genera or families. The regions of special botanical interest taken in the order of the excursions (which are to follow these articles) a: 1. The lower Potomac, run. 8. Four-Mile run. 4. Cabin John run and tributaries. 5. Powder mill and foundry branches. 6. Rock creek and its tributaries. 7. Piney and Broad branches. 8. Sligo and Northwestern branches. 9. Eastern branch or Anacostia river and ite tributaries. 10. Oxen run. 11. The lower Potomae, left side. ‘This classification, by streams, is adopted because of the great’ wild flower wealth of the watered valleys. But the fact must not be lost sight of that large parts of the intervening territory are also botanically rich. The small brooks and by-roads are particularly inviting on account of their floral attractions. It is in secluded nooks and corners that the id flowers are often loveliest. They greet us in their shy way from their hiding places. **A violet by a moss; Half hidden from the woodland anemone, fare the syivan glade _ Lown the huutblest place.” YLOWERS THAT BLOOM IX THE SPRIXG. Spring is the season for wild flowers, but with us there aro varieties in bloom all the year round. There is no time, not even midwinter, that does not present a floral offering. The snow has hardly melted around the ded leaves of winter before the early flowers come forth to beautify the landscape. As the soason Brepses they multiply, and in May and June Are at the height of their exuberance. The dandelion, the buttercupand the daisy are among the most conspicuous of our field flowers and they are. devervedly favorites. The; ly deck the fields. The dandelion is an early visitor, Ihave seen it in the parks as early as the Istof March. ‘The buttercup in usually © month later than this. ‘The daisy first appears about the let of May and remains with us until winter. Indeed, stray ones are seen in the fields as late as the end of December. The clover, which mukes the fields fragrant during spring and early summer, adds greatly to the beauty of the landscape. qo ihe sebatia, anemone, bigod root and ane. nia appear about the Ist of April, closely fol- lowed: by the’ vinlsts twaterertta, pamerreme tonia, forget-me-not, corydalis, rose, primrose, Inrkspur, viteb, pea, liver leaf,’ liverwort, saxi frage, honeysuckle, pink, mandrake, lapine, Bolden rod. sweet william, wake-robin, verbena and a host of other beauties. THE TREES AXD SHRUBS. Trees and shrubs play an important part in nature's ever-changing drama. From the bright leaflet of early spring to the sere leat of autumn and on. through the frosts of winter the changes in their growth and habiliment are constant but gradual. In springtime, sum- er and autumn they beautify our fields, ‘par and streets, and their stately presence iu win- ter is scarcely less attracti i ‘Tho native wild treo life ‘of the region Sf country about Washington is rich jnvatiety and luxuiant in gro ‘The commoner trees are the sycamore, the beech, the oak, the maple, the poplar, the birch, the willow, the hickory, the dogwood, the elm, the sassafras. the ghestnat, the locust, the ash, the gum, tho spruce, the hemlock and the pine, but. there are scores of other genera. ‘The public parks contain many fine specimens of introduced trees, among them being several species of flowering olias. Spring with us dates from sbout the middle f March, but it is not unusual for some of the early trees to leaf much earlier than this. The weeping willow is not only one of the first trees to leaf in the spring, but it is the last of the deciduous trees to ‘cast off its foliage in the fall. Ihave seen it in leaf in the first week of March, and December often finds its long, graceful tresses clad in summer verdure. The introduced shrubs and trees in the streets and parks of the city are two or three weeks ahead of the native Kinds in the suburbs in the matter of «pring foliage. Some of the deciduous shrubs in the parks leaf in March, while many of the ornamental trees—such as the willow, white birch, horse chestnut, soft maples, linden, ash and Lombardy poplar—are usually in full foliage by the 10th to the 15th of April. The increased warmth produced by the asphalt pavements probably accounts for this comparatively early sprouting. * The Carolina poplar is in leaf by the 20th of April. ea dogwood leafs and blooms The attracti abont the same time. It is the 25th of April before the sycamore maple or the alden shows any great degree of foliage. The sugar maple, most of the native poplars and oaks, theelm ‘and the beech are rather backward in leafing, the elm being the tardiest of all. They are are not usually in foliage be- fore the first week in May. This may also be said of the California maidenhair, one of our most graceful and ornamental trees. The apple, the peach, the cherry and the horse chestnut blossom between the middle and end of April. The jasmine is the first of the flowering shrubs to brighten nature in spring, being usually in full bloom before the middle of March.* ‘The bush honeysuckle shoots forth its pale pink fragrant flower a few days later, while the scarlet blossom of the Japan quince is usually accompanying attraction. The lilac is in flower all through the month of April and well into May. The attractive white-blossomed spirea blooms in May. ‘The beautiful Judas tree or redbird attracts ail eyes during the early days of May. “The jasrnine and Japan guince boomed all through ne ihonthot Februaty, 1500, but this. was elcep: tonal. ‘The fragrant wild rose is late to blossom. Social eccentricity is one of the curiosities of wild plant life, and it is well exemplified in the wild rose bu-k. This attractive denizen of the field and roadside is strangely attached tothe plain, modest button bush. They seem to be inseparable companions. The shrub alder and the bramble bush are also frequently close neighbors of the wild rose. The odorous Virginia shrub isin fall fra- grance toward the 1st of May. ‘The agalea, the myrtle and the privet are in blossom early in the season. ‘THE AUTUMN'S OHANGES. The folinge of tho trees is green and dense until the middle of September, when it begins to change to its beautiful autumn colors. The dogwood leads the forest decorations, but it is not far in advance of the ash, the elm and the chestnut, the poplar, the ‘maple and the "The leaves begin to fail about this time, the Carolina poplar (an introduced tree) Doing the first to respond to thedemand of nature. Most of the decidnons trees cast their foliage by the soms adorn the wooded and summer, adds much to nature's winter at- frsetions. Its leaflets are ever bright and green ind 8, 6; empress’ tree, d.'t, 1; fir, e. &, (20 fringe tree, 'd. t., "2; "ginko, dt, wild), d. t..1; groundsel, d. s., § hazel, dt. 2; hazel, t., 2; hercules club, . a. ho iv, et, B honeysuckle hoveun a *. in = t, 2; jugada, @. s., 1; juniper, e. coffee tray @ t, 1; koelrenter 1; laburnmm, 4.” t. lilac, d. s., magnolia, d. t., 6; magnolia, e. t., 2: ‘maple, d. t., 24: matrimony vine, d. s., 1; mimosa, d. t., 2; mock orange, d. s., 8: mulberry, d. t., 1; myr- tle, d. #., 2; nundina, d.s.,1; nettle tree, d. oak, d. t., 20; olive, d.s., 1; planera, 4. t., . 8., 1; por 1; poplar, a. €.5; pride’ ofindie a. *, 1; privet, d. 2; stuartia, d. 6., 1; su berry, d. 8. 7; yellow wood, d. t., 1; yew, €.t, 5. oi but in a way to co-operate at cpl with each other. Tha artillery the perpendicular. foliage assumes = deep old one of the last of the deciduous Sauewiten tal tree white pine, quite an ornamen' the largest of iS tantly, i’ common here- abouts. ttrac- To many the deciduous trees are as a tive in winter, when stripped of their leaves, as at any other time. Indeed, tinguish ‘the different species as ly in winter as in spring or summer. One gets nearer to nature in winter. There is no more beautiful object in nature than the delicate manifestations of the and it is seen to best advantage in winter. birch, the oak, the elm, the maple and other trees have their peculiar attractions of outline, but none of them begins to approach the beech in beauty of symmetry. ‘THE EVEROREENS. The evergreens are prominent in winter, and the many families and species into which they are divided make them an interesting study. Tho pines, the spruces, the firs, the cedars, are all of numerous add to the picturesqueness of the landscape. ‘species. Their scenic effects The holly, of which there are several in nous as well as imported species, is one of most attractive of trees. The evergreen laurel, whose beautiful blos- hillsides in springtime midst of slumbering verdure. One of the happiest gifts one can possess who frequents the country is the ability to identity the trees. Indeed, such knowledge is essen to real pleasure. the more they are admired, and our, increases in the ratio of our know! of —_ habits, &c. Each species has its peculiar abit Ficognized by one who is watchful. All that is ne led to juire +t tree know! pristine ti hem, more they are studied id characteristics, which are readily intelfigent application—association with t ‘This knowledge may not be acquired in one year or in two, but it will come, and when it does come the possessor would not part with it for consideration. ‘The species of some families are numerot a8, as the pine, the maple and the oak, and while variations are discerned in the outlines of the leaves of different species belonging to the same generaa strong family resemblance will be found running through them. For in- stance, the leaves of the handsome soft are very different in individual outline, but each is distinctively maple. And it is so with the oak and other families. Agricultural Park isa good place to study the trees, as they are arranged there by fami- lies. "It ia also n popular resort for the birds. TREES FOUND IN THE DISTRICT. The District of Columbia, with its unsur- passed variety of trees and shrubs, presents a rare field for the student of tree life. In the public parks, reservations and streets within the city limi shrubs. These comprise 127 genera, with 447 distinct species. They are classificd as follows, the number of species being given in each case. The abbreviation D.T. stands for decidious tree; E.T. for evergreen tree: D.S., decidious shrub, and E.S., evergreen shrub: imits are more than 120,000 treesand Ailanthus, d. aiden, d. t., almond, d. apple, 4. t.,; i vancaria, t., 10; arrowwood, d.s., a. 6; ach, d. t., 8; ash berry, e. s.,02, aueuba, e. 5, i s., 20. Deciduous tree. tDeciduous ¢hrub. Evergreen tree. {Evergreen shirub.* Barberry, d. 8., 2; beech, d. t., jirch, d.t., 4; bladder senna, d: 8., 1; box, e. 6,4; broom, d.t.,e 1; buckeye, d.'t., 2; burning bush, d.s., 2; buck= thorn, d. ‘s., 1; buffalo berry, d. s., 1; button bush, d. 8, 1; callicarpa, d. &.,” 2; cassia, a. 8, 1; cedar, e. t., 3; cercidophylium, 4. 8.,'1; chaste shrub, d. . 1; cherry, d. t, 3; chestnut, d. t, 4; Christ's thorn, Goronilla, d. s.. 1; cotomeaster, d. x. 4 arrant, 8, 1; cypress, t., 1: cypress, e.t., 1; 8 aphine, a. 2: desmodium, ds i t, deutzia, dogwood, d. t., 6: elin, d. t, golden bell, d.s., 3; gordonia, d:t., 1; grape gum, d. t., &, “ hawthorn, d. vee t, Ms Pad ®, 1; tie a. t, . 1; hydrangea, d. s, 4; t., 1; Indian beun, d.t., 4; indigo @,1;' Japan cypress, ©. ¢, 6; Japan 6, 0; jasmine, d. «., 1; Judas tree,'d. : Kentucky ia, dt, , 2; larea, dt, 1; Mnden, d. t., 4; locust, d. t, 4; ony, d. jondron, d. d. Pl megranate, d. thodalypus, d. a,” 1; 20; rose, wild, d. John’s wort, eh, dt, 5 1 ; sweet shrub, d.s., 1; tamarix, d. +1; walnut, 4. t., 3; wax- a. t., 8; willow, d. t, 3; Grorce Snexoxs. ‘The Washington Monument. Have you seen by Potomac that shaft in the skies, From the meadows exulting to mate with the wey st Now misty and gray as the clouds it defies, ‘Now bright in the splendor its daring has wé ‘ont ‘The winds are its comrades, the lightnings, the storm; The first hush of dawn on its summit shines fair; And the last ray of evening illumines its form ‘Towering grand and aloue in the limitless air. By Nile rise the Pyramids, wrapped in the shade ‘Of ages that passed as the waves on the shores And Barnak, majestic, whose vast colonnades A god might nave fashioned for man tu adore; And Baalove upifts like a vision divine Its wonder of beauty by Lebanon's wall; But captive and slave reated in sorrow the shrine, ‘The palace, the temple, the pyramid tall. To Freedom Potomac’s proud obelisk towers, And Karnak and Baalbee in be: 'y outvies, For Washington's glory its grandeur em; 0 “And freemen with joy piled its stones to the atleat © Symbol of Liverty, matchiess, sublime, Still soar from the meadows to mate with the sun, And see thy Republic to wttermost tim ie ‘he nobie, the peerless, the Many in One! = —EpNA DEAN —_-e- An Innovation in the French Army. ‘The Paris correspondent of the London. Daily News telegraphs: ® “One of the means of exer- cising the German army, especially in vogue at Metz and Strasburg. is that of nocturnal ‘alerts.’ Every soldier mus: be ready to face anenemy ina given time. the time allowed being very short. The ‘alerts’ are often go gen- eral as to’ resemble an instantaneous mobili. zation. ~ M. de Freycinet has ordered the same 5; the garrisons of the departments of the Meurthe and Vosges. There is ‘alert’ carly in Mey. in which the act on ypotin — along an extended line invad: tf neil esis of havi i ling enemy, and to defend a | eRe cavairy at Luneville are to be brought jay, "and the Moselle ‘will be defended at Kauoy, Flavigny and two other It socass surprising that this aystern of drill wen not borrowed sooner from the Germans.” ees et ci? Metin tra Pe have as many as you want of mine.’ to remove mountains to such as had faith only to the amountof a grain of mustard seed has dis- | never been exemplified, “but the hydraulic miners have afforded the most ample demon- stration of their ability to move mountains in aglerpeat wealth. Lofty mountains have, been brought low through no other the pipe line, the monitor and the 4 tremendous ever received such an exempli walic mines of California. wer of water ; | and suddenly his eve and with other behind it, would have mach siderable distance from the acrowber or other heavy; stream it would be hand and thrown toe great ly ae though struck being man- po most effectually body. At 400 feet from the nozzle a six-inch stream momentarily against denude it in a second of the heaviest bark as cleanl: had been used. Whenever turned against » gravel bank it cute rows into it in every direc using thousan gied, but the breath and suddenly ex; with 375 feet fall, swu: of thought it was my you: S| Dear ge! I hope le like straws, and the that is If one who bas never seen @ moni- tor in operation under full head could Y stream from a fire hose about « thousand times he would be able to form some conception of its power. The water is brought in open ditches or from | great distance, mountain sides and nozzle about one-third the size of ipe, the compression giving it still The monitor is constructed some’ like the ordinary hose n ozzle, but has a joint that permits it to i balan be sw in any direc- ith” weights, and. by means of an ingenious device known asa de- flector the tremendous stream can be the weight of a Easily as it is man: tor sometimes beco: suftice to direct When a monitor gets this manner there are two done. The water may be shut from control in gate, @ process involving much delay and per- OF some brave man may rash in end get to the monitor without bei stream. 'o do this juires agility and The stream is liable to'box ‘the cow, of minute and its course must be wat the probable direction noted. rough surface the man must to make a misstep, and at to flee should the ‘erratic dency to change its cor Ere Then over the the same time ready stream betray a ten- yurse 80 a8 to endanger hair-breadth os | © Tong engagement to i aa =, seldom last longer than a few months, during the greatest cool- There have been man; capes and some thrilling e: under such circumstances been only by the exercise of ness and. braver: his work on hy- from six-inch nozzle, with 450 feet vertical w equal to 588,785 foot pounds second, equivalent to 1,070 horse to believe almost anything that about the power exerted by such With a force such as that exerted stream from @ monitor, it is apparent tremendous amolnt of material can be washed away in a very short time. The of course, upon its nature, whether loose soil, ordii gravel. In some pl cumstances, as high as to euch inch of water have removed twenty-four hours. With a flow of 500 inches the bulk removed each day is thus seen to be gravel the amount is as little as three cul ver, almost entirely dependen: e ° Le amount just mentioned the head of $50 fee &, Pid i ff i HA SE GOT WILLIAM'S SPANKING. ‘From the Chicago Inter-Orean. ‘There were eighteen men and one «mall boy in the Indiana avenue car as it swung around Lake street on to State yesterday afternoon. As it tarned on Madison street the ladies, mod of them fatigued by chasing after spring dress dargains in the stores, begen 16 fic in, an! one by one the men rose and gave up their seats At 19th street there were twenty-six indlics, one large old gentleman and the «mall boy seated, while a row of able-Uodied citizens de- veloped their muscles by dangling from the ends of strap ‘The large old gentleman seemed to be watch- ing the small boy, but the small boy was not watching the old gentleman. Ho mt with hie hangs in hie fidgeting upon his seat, and anon ing in @ penetrating unde ‘As each lady sot in be Favored ber witha stare, whic! formance caused tee large off gentleusen to Seow At 18th street two more ladies entered the man instantly arose, and. with « courtly bow, surrendered his seat to the first of the ladies. Then he looked around for a seat for the other, fell upon the small box Still seated and contentedls. whist softly bo imeelf. A pained expression spread over old gentleman's face and a startled gaze quick- y's features as hand—« iat firm oe his arm and 9 pained voice said: up this instant a ve Our seat to the Indy. "Great goodness’. fant should live to see a boy of mine sitting and whistling while «lady is standing! Whet will FoRE Poor old mother sy when I tell her this? illiam, Tam going to teach you here and now Rever to disgrace my name again.” The small boy listened open-mouthed to the gentle tirade, and, ineffectually trying to le out of that firm grasp, now suddenly found himeelf elevated, face down, over # large broad knee. He had just time to gaep, “I ain't no boy of yours,” when there eusued what is described as one of the grandest and most symmetrical whackings ever administered in this or any other age. During the perform- ‘ance the small boy had ted his original Statement three times in three different 'y and then he was set upon the floor. The conductor, aman of deliberation, evi- dently here thought it his duty to interfere. “Here,” he sad; “you shouldn't lick that boy if he's no relation to you.” “I never seen him before,” whined the boy. “What? What?” said the old gentlomen; “does the young rascal deny his own father’ Then he put on his glasses, and his expros- sion of astonishment was beautiful to see. “Why, bless me,” he exclaimed; “why, I ingest boy, Wailinm. I haven't inconvenienced you, young sir; you'll excuse me, won't you! Here the car was running merrily past 26th street and the boy said sometinng that sounded like **police.” “Oh, you want to go to the police station?” said the old gentleman, benevolently. ‘Been carried too far, eh! Well, we'll rectify that And that large, kindly old gentleman took the small boy by the collar, helped hun gently over the hind platform and dropped him, The boy was 80 bewildered that be stood on the a was almost run ones hansom, while the old gentleman stepped into the car, where the men all touched their hate, while six ladies arose and quarreled with each other to give bim a seat. A Pen Picture of the Mighty Csar's Girl Sub- Sects. ‘Mue. Romanoff in the English Magasine. daughter isa great pet in Russian fam- flies, perhaps because there are generally more sons than daughters. Take the young mem- bers of the imperial family, for example, and we find twenty-two grand dukesand only seven grand duchesscs, and this may be stated to be about the average proportion in most families. ie | The necessity for men in the rural distriote as assistants in the agricultural labors of their fathers has given rive to asaring: “One son is no son, two sons are half sson, but three are a whole son.” Notwithstanding the with which the birth of a Little girl is the darling, the ob derest affection and care pride and eatisfaction is hailed the Much is not of ber in assistance to the 5 whe is ind es their means and circumstan: she takes it andes her that and im T were a young unmarried girl to visit e wick in towns, but in villages it is ‘sometimes done under the direction of mamma or grandmamma. She is undoubtedly fond of likes to be well dressed and generally ‘adores dancing. Music isnot the Russian girls forte, nor ts solo singing. . Most of the ineti- tho ey thoroughly know cory ge ey ae tions, but it is seldom you find ¥ a quadrille or polka off hand, irls marry very young in Russia, and there are very few of those most estimable individuals called old maids. There are no colonies for Russians to run away to, and statistics show that the births of boys much excced those of girls. ts are not approved of: they which time the fiancee is the mistress of the house. Her girl friends assemble to help to sew the dowry, the sewing afternoon generally end- ing in a dance after tea, when the bridegroom drops in with a few bachelor friends. Another iding is thus often arranged, and #o on, little by little, till, like the fifty-one cards in the game of “old maid,” they pair off, and oue generally of the sterner sex isleft foriorn. ——_—_+eo —__ ‘You Can't Coax ‘em Off in This Way. From the Cinvinnat! Commercial Gazette. Beading the reports of base ball games has some obvious and great advantages over secing them played, and this only need be mentioned to be i First of all you do not have to wait for two hours to seo how it iscoming out. It is well known that great many of the most expert novel readers owe no small part of their suc- cess to the habit which they Lave carefully cul- tivated of beginning at the end of a story. They are thus at once able to determine at the ponent no“ a ball game as published the next morning the newspapers gives all the im) tinforma- those who watched the day before had to spend two hours in getting. Thus ii to Mont ! i | i f iii i s t fi ht Att | if Hi ss f i i i ft t H : : RF F i t i i Laan il Ret HG iat Hal Ua f ul ! I Hl fl tH Li i